inspection.  His self-importance was amusing, as was also the deferential aspect of those who, with arms in their hands, hammering flints or turning screws, awaited patiently their turn for his opinion of their efficiency.  But perhaps the most striking group of all was that in which a thick-necked, bull-headed young fellow, with blood-colored hair, a son of Rousin Redhead’s—­who, by the way, was himself present—­and another beetle-browed slip were engaged in drawing for a wager, upon one of the school-boy’s slates, the figure of a coffin and cross-bones.  A hardened-looking old sinner, with murder legible in his face, held the few half-pence which they wagered in his open hand, whilst in the other he clutched a pole, surmounted by a bent bayonet that had evidently seen service.  The last group worthy of remark was composed of a few persons who were writing threatening notices upon a leaf torn out of a school-boy’s copy, which was laid upon what they formerly termed a copy-board, of plain deal, kept upon the knees, as a substitute for desks, while the boys were writing.  This mode of amusement was called waiting for the Article-bearer, or the Captain, for such was Bartle Flanagan, who now entered the house, and saluted all present with great cordiality.

“Begad, boys,” he said, “our four guards widout is worth any money.  I had to pass the sign-word afore ’I could pass myself, and that’s the way it ought to be.  But, boys, before we go further, an’ for fraid of thraitors, I must call the rowl.  You’ll stand in a row roun’ the walls, an’ thin we can make sure that there’s no spies among us.”

He then called out a roll of those who were members of his lodge and, having ascertained that all was right, he proceeded immediately to business.

“Rousin Redhead, what’s the raisin you didn’t take the arms from Captain St. Ledger’s stewart?  Sixteen men armed was enough to do it, an’ yees failed.”

“Ay, an’ if you had been wid us, and sixteen more to the back o’ that, you’d failed too.  Begarra, captain dear, it seems that good people is scarce.  Look at Mickey Mulvather there, you see his head tied up; but aldo he can play cards well enough, be me sowl, he’s short of wan ear any how, an’ if you could meet wan o’ the same Stewart’s bullets, goin’ abroad at night like ourselves for its divarsion, it might tell how he lost it.  Bartle, I tell you a number of us isn’t satisfied wid you.  You sends us out to meet danger, an’ you won’t come yourself.”

“Don’t you know, Rouser, that I always do go whenever I can?  But I’m caged now; faix I don’t sleep in a barn, and can’t budge as I used to do.”

“An’ who’s tyin’ you to your place, thin?”

“Rouser,” replied Bartle, “I wish I had a thousand like you, not but I have fine fellows.  Boys, the thruth is this, you must all meet here to-morrow night, for the short an’ long of it is, that I’m goin’ to run away wid a wife.”

“Well,” replied Redhead, “sure you can do that widout our assistance, if she’s willin’ to come.”